Roll off roof observatories advantages almost full sky access home owners associations can be home made cost less than a dome disadvantages roof can be very heavy extra area needed for roof truss system high walls.
Roll off roof observatory construction.
Originally i only planned to put up a pier new shed but the good people here on sgl encouraged me to go for a full observatory.
With high quality residential type construction they are virtually maintenance free for years to come.
Roll off roof observatories now in our 18th year of providing the highest quality ever customizable observatories available.
See my original thread here.
We will construct a small guesthouse a main house and of course want to include a small observatory as well.
For building the roof frame i used a 2 x 6 for the main cross beam and used a 2 x 4 support to level and hold in place.
Pier astro shed eventually i settled on the idea of a roll over roof.
Some are spartan and utilitarian and many are lavish with amenities and decorations.
Wheel diameter is 4 or 6 depending on the roof size.
It is located on top of a hill with unobstructed few to all sides and has still fairly dark sky.
I build the gables on the ground and then attached them to the secured roll off slider.
A small roll off roof observatory.
Observatory solutions is a consulting firm located in southwest colorado that develops customized solutions for astronomical observatories that integrate site design style and equipment configuration.
I followed the plans from skyshed for the the gable and roof construction again using deck screws.
Some are built on housetops and some are built on stilts to see above trees.
The roller assembly consists of a bent steel plate with a v groove roller assembly welded to the plate.
In 1997 we acquired 2 000 m of land close to la coruña in the northwest of spain where we live.
Building a roll off roof observatory is unique covering all aspects of designing a roll off roof observatory.
My design is probably quite unconventional and uses an off the shelf 12 x 8 shed as a starting point.
Many are classic domes that scream observatory when you see them.
Without measured drawings of your observatory you might run into the problem of not providing the necessary clearance for the roll off roof.
My original design called for the roof to roll off on angle iron placed in an l position where the wheels are protected on both sides by the angle iron.
Track sections are 10 feet in length and come with pre drilled 3 8 holes for lag or through bolting to the observatory side walls and roof support system.
Planning the site viewing requirements conforming to by laws and orientation of the structure.
I got lucky on mine.